Judaica

Ancient Judaism

The Legends of the Jews. By Louis Ginzberg. This is a complete book online, in which Ginzberg presents English translations of much of the ancient Jewish lore called midrash, stories which expand upon biblical narratives and seek to interpret them by providing imaginary contexts. Very interesting reading. Also here.

The abridged English edition of the Babylonian Talmud prepared by Michael L. Rodkinson a century ago presents some of the most interesting and appealing material from the Talmud. But even the material which has been included here is heavily edited and reworked. I wonder if it is even right to call this an edition of the Talmud.

Jewish Roots of Eastern Christian Mysticism. A web page maintained by James Miller and Andrei Orlov as part of an ongoing seminar at the department of theology of Marquette University (Milwaukee). Consists mostly of links to resources on intertestamental Jewish literature, and its use among both Christians and Jews in ancient times.

Schürer’s History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ — A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ: Being a Second and Revised Edition of a Manual of the History of New Testament times, by Emil Schürer; translated by Rev. John Macpherson, Sophia Taylor, Peter Christie. 5 vols. (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1885-90).
First Division, Political History of Palestine, from B.C. 175 to A.D. 135,
vol. 1 (also here and here);
vol. 2 (not available);
Second Division, The Internal Condition of Palestine, and of the Jewish People, in the Time of Jesus Christ;
vol. 1 (also here and here);
vol. 2 (also here and here);
vol. 3 (also here).

A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature, by Marcus Jastrow (1903), vol. 1 and vol. 2. A standard lexicon of Hebrew and Aramaic as used in the rabbinic literature, with definitions in English. A recent reprint of this lexicon can be bought here.

Medieval Judaism

LOCAL Article about Rashi, the famous 11th-century Jewish commentator, by Israel Abrahams (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1911).

An English translation of Rashi's Commentary on the Pentateuch (Chumash) has been put online by Michael Pincus in Ohio. After selecting a chapter, click on the "Rashi Commentary" link at the top left of the page. Unfortunately the e-text is lacking the Hebrew words, which are indicated only by the annotation "{Hebrew Ref}."

Mechon Mamre. This site—maintained by a group of ultra-observant Jewish Torah scholars in Israel—has the full text of the Hebrew Bible online in four editions in Hebrew (including one with cantillation marks), one in Aramaic (Targum Onqelos), one in English (the Jewish Publication Society translation of 1917), and one in parallel Hebrew and English (voweled Hebrew and JPS English). It also provides several ancient compilations of the Oral Law (Mishneh Torah, Mishnah, Tosefta, Yerushalmi and Bavli), and an encyclopedia of Torah basics (in English). The site requires Hebrew text support from your browser, but if you lack this and are using Microsoft Internet Explorer with "install on demand" activated, go ahead and download the Hebrew support when prompted. It only takes about 5 minutes.

An Introduction to Hebrew Manuscripts. By Joseph Gutmann, Evelyn Cohen, Menahem Schmelzer, Malachi Beit-Arié. Adapted from The New York Public Library's publication A Sign and a Witness: 2,000 Years of Hebrew Books and Illuminated Manuscripts. Four experts introduce the physical and cultural characteristics of the Hebrew manuscript books of the Middle Ages and reflect on the kind of information that they reveal.

Chapters on Jewish Literature. By Israel Abrahams (1899). Essays on various ancient and medieval Jewish writings, published on the web by the Gutenberg Project.

Jewish Versions of the Bible

The Story of Bible Translations. By Max L. Margolis (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1917). A brief history of translations of the Old Testament up to 1917, from a Jewish perspective. Also here.

The Birth of a Bible. By Leonard J. Greenspoon, in Norii magazine. A long and interesting discussion of the history of Jewish versions. Also here.

Jewish School and Family Bible… Newly Translated under the Supervision of the Rev. the chief Rabbi of the United Congreagtions of the British Empire, by Dr. A. Benisch (4 volumes, London, 1851-1861).

Leeser’s Bible: The Twenty-four Books of the Holy Scriptures: Carefully Translated According to the Massoretic Text, On the Basis of the English Version, After the Best Jewish Authorities; and supplied with short explanatory notes. By Isaac Leeser (Philadelphia, 1853).